Residents of the mainland's commercial capital know little about their new mayor, economist Han Zheng. Mr Han was one of the city's eight, largely anonymous vice-mayors, although his portfolio included the important areas of urban planning and land management.
The new mayor gave no victory speech after the local legislature approved his appointment in a closed-door session. The youthful-looking Mr Han, 48, simply shook hands with outgoing mayor Chen Liangyu and quietly assumed office.
Mr Han is Shanghai's youngest mayor since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. His appointment is no surprise, as his name was put forward four months ago.
Foreign business executives are cheered by Mr Han's training as an economist and hope he will be reform-oriented.
Foreign diplomats are heartened that he rose steadily through the city's ranks to win the mayor's post, instead of an outsider. They believe this is a sign that the mainland's bureaucracy is becoming more professional.
However, one local journalist said it would be difficult to see Mr Han's true character until he started making policy.
Mr Han comes from Zhejiang province and studied and worked in Shanghai. The new mayor served in the lumbering state industry, including the Shanghai Number Six Galoshes Factory.